A small population of red birds lived in a habitat that did not undergo changes for a long period of time. The birds were geogra
phically isolated from other red birds. Predict the effects of natural selection on this population of birds. A - The red birds would develop traits that would help them to be better suited.
B - Red birds would become extinct due to no change in the environment.
C - The population of red birds would have a decrease in genetic variation.
D - Only specific alleles of traits would increase in the red birds.
Answer: A - The red birds would develop traits that would help them to be better suited.
Explanation:
Speciation is a process of development of new species from the existing parent species when the members of the population of the same species get separated by geographical, behavioral and temporal isolation.
In the given situation although the red bird species has not undergone any change for a long time but after separating geographically, it may happen that the members develop traits which allows them to survive in the new habitat. The members which develop better traits will survive, reproduce and pass on their valuable traits to the next generation. This is called as natural selection. This process of natural selection will favor speciation.
